TSPAN1 expression analysis by real-time PCR showed that TSPAN1 mRNA was significantly up-regulated in prostate carcinoma samples relative to BPH samples (p = 0.049), and in primary prostate tumour tissue relative to matched normal tissue from the same patient (p = 0.0004) (Fig. 2A,B). Here, TSPAN1 is linked to benign prostatic hyperplasia.